PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New
Matter Inc. is breaking down barriers to widespread adoption of 3D
printers for home use. Today, the company has launched a 35 day Indiegogo
campaign to accept pre-orders for their new 3D printer, the MOD-t. With
high-quality hardware, easy-to-use software and a starting price of only
$149, the MOD-t is truly a mass-market 3D printing solution. At the
conclusion of the Indiegogo campaign, New Matter will also launch an
integrated online marketplace for exchanging printable designs,
providing an “Etsy meets iTunes”-like opportunity for designers and
artists.

“We’re entering an exciting time where more and more people are being
inspired by the possibilities of using 3D printing to customize the
world around them,” said Steve Schell, Co-Founder and President of New
Matter. “To truly make 3D printing accessible to everyone, we had to
create a unified hardware and software experience that encourages people
to explore and share their creations. We feel the MOD-t printer is a
leap forward in the 3D printing space, and we’re excited to introduce it
to 3D printing enthusiasts and novices alike.”

New Matter partnered with frogVentures,
the investment arm of global product strategy and design firm frog, to
create a cohesive, intuitive and satisfying user experience. frog’s
interdisciplinary team of researchers, strategists, designers and
technologists worked closely with New Matter to co-develop the company's
experience strategy and design—from branding and identity to the design
of the printer, marketplace and app.

“3D printing promises a magical interaction – with the press of a
button, you can turn intangible ideas into physical objects,” notes
Ethan Imboden, VP of Venture Design at frog.
“This has been an essential technology for designers and engineers for
decades but, without a robust ecosystem of easy to share designs, 3D
printing had yet to deliver on its promise for mainstream consumers. In
our work with New Matter, we’ve focused on crafting a product ecosystem
that moves beyond the basics of ‘ease of use’ to make 3D printing both
relevant and delightful for anyone.”

New Matter is the latest company from Idealab,
a creator and operator of technology companies that has started more
than 125 companies since 1996, resulting in more than 40 IPOs and
acquisitions. The New Matter team is made up of veterans from the 3D
printing and design industry, and is backed by leading venture capital
firms First
Round Capital and Alsop
Louie, with additional investments from Idealab, frogVentures,
Biotechonomy and angel investor Scott Banister.

“My dream is for a 3D printer in every home and in every classroom,”
said Bill Gross, Founder of Idealab and Co-Founder of New Matter. “The
potential for transforming both manufacturing and education is
unfathomable, and the MOD-t is the firing shot to enable this
revolutionary change.”

Achieving Truly Low Cost

Through clever mechanical engineering and with high-volume manufacturing
in mind, New Matter has significantly reduced the cost to produce the
MOD-t 3D Printer. New Matter developed a unique, patent-pending
electro-mechanical design and a build platform with dramatically fewer
parts, making the printer highly reliable, precise and affordable.

New Matter utilizes high-volume manufacturing processes in order to
reduce the overall product cost of the MOD-t design. To further ensure a
smooth path to production, New Matter has partnered with Dragon
Innovation, which specializes in bringing hardware products to
market and has worked on some of the most successful hardware
crowdfunding campaigns. After rigorous review and analysis, the MOD-t
has earned the “Dragon Certified” designation, indicating that the MOD-t
is manufacturing-ready.

Providing a Vibrant Online Marketplace

New Matter intends to solve the problem of limited access to quality 3D
designs by creating an online marketplace where users can buy and sell
3D-printable designs. The Marketplace will feature customizable models
and limited-edition items created by renowned designers and artists. A
powerful interface will allow users to interact with and adjust 3D
models with ease. In addition, the New Matter store’s social and sharing
capabilities will enable users to send physical objects to friends as
easily as sending a text message, or subscribe to a personalized series
of curated 3D objects to be delivered on a regular basis. Finally, to
make the printing process foolproof, the designs in New Matter’s curated
store will be specifically calibrated for the MOD-t printer, allowing
for great prints every time.

About New Matter

New Matter’s mission is to make 3D printing accessible to all by
breaking down the barriers that have limited this technology to early
adopters. The New Matter MOD-t 3D Printer is designed to produce
high-quality objects at an exceptionally affordable price, and with the
ease of use of our favorite consumer electronics. New Matter is backed
by leading venture capital firms and is a network company of Idealab, a
creator and operator of technology businesses. www.newmatter.com

About frog

frog is a global product strategy and design firm. Our work solves
problems, anticipates the future, and advances the human experience. We
are more than 600 strategists, researchers, designers, and technologists
who consult and partner with clients across industries. Headquartered in
San Francisco, we have offices in Amsterdam, Austin, Boston, Milan,
Munich, New York, Seattle, Shanghai, and Singapore. www.frogdesign.com